Charles Dickens' pocket watch up for auction in Chichester

A pocket watch once owned by Charles Dickens is being auctioned off in Chichester.

The time piece dates from 1836 and was gifted to the Portsmouth-born author for his editorship of the magazine Bentleys Miscellany.

The open-faced key-wind watch is going under the hammer along with a desk set after both items came from Dickens' descendants.

Barnaby Chiari of Stride & Son Auctioneers said: "Both items are of national importance.

"The watch would appear to be unprecedented in terms of historical Dickens' memorabilia, both as a talisman of the author’s early literary career and a unique object, the like of which we can find no comparison.

"Both lots have come from a deceased estate, originating from the Portsmouth area."

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.